This quiet and poetic picture book has definitely jumped into my top five favorites for this year. The one I looked at had a slide on the cover (as does the one on Amazon) but I couldn't find that one on the internet. Hmmmm. Anyway, each picture tells its own story. How to wash your socks (jump in a mud puddle). How to be brave (go down a big slide). How to get a good night's sleep (sleep on a bed that looks like something from Princess and the Pea). Some are whimsical, some are serious, all are absolutely perfect. You have got to find this book!

IF YOU WANT TO SEE A WHALE

Julie Fogliano

Julie Fogliano is fast becoming one of my favorite picture book poets. I loved "and then it's spring" and her newest book "if you want to see a whale," is just as perfect. Both books have featured the gentle art of Erin Stead, who won the Caldecott for Sick Day for Amos McGee.

if you want to see a whale, you will need to know what not to look at.

Pink roses, pelicans, possible pirates…

If you want to see a whale you have to keep your eyes on the sea and wait…

and wait…and wait…

YOO HOO LADYBUG

Classic Mem Fox! Only a little text

but every single word is absolutely perfect.

"Yoo-hoo, Ladybug!

Where are you?

There you are…

Afloat in the bath

with duck and giraffe."

Kids will also love hunting for the ladybug in Laura Ljungkvist's bright collage like illustrations. Each page contains basically the same objects in a different context and arrangement.

STRIPES OF ALL TYPES

Susan Stockdale

Toting a shell
Twisting on sand
Sprawled in a lair
and sprinting on land.

A safari of striped animals for the younger set. One or two lines of text and a striped animal on each page. A two-page spread at the end shares a little information about the animals. Kids are also sure to love the "Can you find these stripes?" invitation on the last two pages.

WHEN YOUR PORCUPINE FEELS PRICKLY Kathy DeZarn Beynette

"Shark"If you make a rude remarkI hope it won't be to your shark.Don't say, "That's a stupid sweater,"Or "I like sharks but whales are better.Keep your shark relations happy.Rudeness makes us all feel snappy.

I hadn't heard of any of these picture books before this introduction, but now I'm on the look-out!

Thanks for letting me post early. I have an 8 AM doctor's appointment and I thought I might miss posting my links. (8 AM sounded like a good idea 6 months ago when I made the appointment--tonight, now, not so much.) These posts will be up after midnight:

Hi Carol, thank you so much for hosting this week. I love the books that you shared here. My contribution this week is a Janet Wong and Julie Paschkis special - "Yoga Poems: Twist" and "Night Garden: Poems from the World of Dreams."

Here's the link:http://gatheringbooks.wordpress.com/2013/06/21/poetry-friday-yoga-and-night-garden-a-janet-wong-and-julie-paschkis-special/

Hi Carol-I'm at the All-Write and wanted to share a poem about courage, connecting to those who have courage in writing and sharing out in the world-not always easy! Thanks for hosting and for sharing all those wonderful books. I adore "If You Want To See A Whale"! http://teacherdance.blogspot.com/2013/06/traveling-poetry-friday.html

Hi Carol! Thanks for rounding us up today and for the wonderful picture books! I esp. like the cover for "Stripes of All Types" and the poem for "When Your Porcupine Feels Prickly." My theme today is coffee: http://tabathayeatts.blogspot.com/2013/06/coffee.html

Carol,I am thrilled you are today's Poetry Friday host. Thank you for sharing so many great titles. I don't know how it happened, but I do not have one of these! Oh no! I am adding to my wish list again. Following blogs is dangerous for the wallet.

Today I joining with a poem about lilies. I just couldn't resist the topic as they are surrounding my house right now in their fragrant beauty. http://merelydaybyday.blogspot.com/2013/06/poetry-friday-lily-dance.html?m=1

I still need to return for some linking. We are out of data for the month so I am posting from my phone. I am not very good at phone posting. It's hard to see the screen and typing is a challenge - linking seems impossible.

Hi Carol - thanks for these pb recommendations! Thanks also for hosting. I'm in with a few Valerie Worth poems on the subject of childhood play. http://www.irenelatham.blogspot.com/2013/06/small-poems-about-childhood-play-by.html

Thanks for hosting!My addition to Poetry Friday is a mild ironic comment on CCSS close reading with William Wordsworth...: http://usedbooksinclass.com/2013/06/21/poetry-friday-up-up-my-friend-leave-close-reading-behind/

Hi Carol, and thanks for sharing these books -- my rule is if I see two books on the same day it's a SIGN. So, hurray for getting If You Want to See a Whale! ;-)

I posted (at long last) about Amy LV's book, Forest Has a Song. I was motivated by a recent trip to Vancouver, British Columbia, and share some photos at http://kerirecommends.com/2013/06/21/poetry-friday--forest-has-a-song-by-amy-ludwig-vanderwater.aspx.

THanks for hosting, Carol! I kept visiting on Friday but the Leave a Comment function wasn't working for me. Anyway, thanks for this roundup--I've added several of these to my TBR list. Happy Poetry Friday!